Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce isn’t one to hide his emotions, and in the latest episode of the “New Heights” podcast, the raw frustration of a championship team struggling to find its identity came pouring out.
The typically upbeat tight end couldn’t mask his disappointment following the Chiefs’ 20-10 loss to the Houston Texans, a defeat that puts Kansas City in unfamiliar territory as they face their first season since 2015 without an AFC West title.
“Yeah, man. It’s uh it’s been a tough f—ing go around for the past two days,” Travis confessed to his brother Jason, via YouTube. “You put in all this f—ing work in hopes that it pays off and right now it just for whatever f—ing reason, man, it’s little things. It’s I don’t know, discipline. And I feel like I’ve always had the answers in years past, and this year it just I just can’t find them.”
The vulnerability in Travis’s voice was palpable as he recounted the emotional toll of Kansas City’s recent struggles. For a player who’s been central to the Chiefs’ dynasty, this unexpected midseason crisis hits differently. The team that seemed unstoppable during back-to-back Super Bowl runs now finds itself battling basic execution issues.
What makes this season particularly frustrating for Travis is that, unlike previous years, solutions aren’t presenting themselves despite the work being put in. The Chiefs have dropped multiple games they seemingly should have won, and the team’s execution in crucial moments has faltered.
Travis was particularly hard on himself for a late-game drop against the Texans, describing it as “a s—ty f—ing feeling, especially dropping the f—ing ball late in the game like that when we were on our last f—ing chance to make something shake.”
While Jason tried to comfort his brother by pointing out it would have been an impressive catch given the degree of difficulty, Travis wasn’t interested in excuses.
This unfiltered look at a superstar athlete processing disappointment in real-time shows just how deeply invested he is in the team’s success.
When asked what specifically needs fixing, Travis didn’t hesitate to break down the on-field issues.
“Missed blocks and key situations that could, you know, spark big runs, spark big plays and scoring touchdowns,” Kelce said. “You got to score touchdowns in this league, man. Field goals aren’t going to aren’t going to cut it. I think it’s just details on all phases.”
This kind of unfiltered honesty is what makes the New Heights podcast such compelling listening. While sports media often traffics in clichés and carefully crafted responses, Travis Kelce’s genuine vulnerability provides a rare window into the emotional reality of a championship team facing unexpected adversity.